order
                        
                      
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Adult Beetles”
                                  
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Larval Beetles”
                                  
                                    Diptera
                                       “True Flies”
                                  
                                    Ephemeroptera
                                       “Mayflies”
                                  
                                    Hemiptera
                                       “True Bugs”
                                  
                                    Lepidoptera
                                       “Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
                                  
                                    Megaloptera
                                       “Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
                                  
                                    Odonata
                                       “Dragonflies and Damselflies”
                                  
                                    Plecoptera
                                       “Stoneflies”
                                  
                                    Trichoptera
                                       “Caddisflies”
                                 family
                        
                     Elmidae
               
            Ancyronyx variegatus
            
                  “Riffle Beetles”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        This genus is represented as one species in North America.  There are several species known across the globe as "Spider Riffle Beetles"  because of their long legs.  They are univoltine with six instars. 
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: 6.9 and higher
                                 Upper Midwest: 6 and higher
                                 Midwest: 4 and higher
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Collector / Gatherer
Scraper / Grazer
                        
                     Scraper / Grazer
MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Clinger
Sprawler
                        
                     Sprawler
DISTRIBUTION
                        
                                 Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
                        
                     HABITAT
                        
                                 Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
                        
                     Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
               order
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Elytra
                                 family
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    5-Segmented Tarsi
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Big Claws
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Last Tarsal Segment 
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Thread-like Antennae
                                 genus
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Antennae With 11 Segments
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Basal Tooth On Claw
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Prosternal Process
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Tomentum of tibia
                                 
                  + Expanded Character List
                  
                     
               
            
                        Order:
                           Adults with hardened forewings (elytra) covering the hind wings. 
                     
                     
                        Family:
                           Terminal segment of each antenna no longer than combined length of 2 preceding segments; antennae thread-like. Elytra concealing entire abdomen or exposing only part of 1 tergite. Each leg with 5 tarsal segments, last tarsal segment about as long as other segments combined and with big claws. Abdomen with 5 visible segments.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Hind coxae similar to other coxae.  Posterior margin of prosternal process about as wide as head.  Legs elongated. Antennae 11 segmented. Elytra without sublateral carinae. Pronotum with transverse impression.
                     
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Ventral
               


